Fake paddy sale: Farmers demand action

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 23 DEC : A group of farmers today lodged a complaint with the agriculture development officer (ADO) of Old Malda block, Dr Swarnali Bhattacharya, demanding action against local traders who were allegedly selling fake paddy seeds in the market.

The ADO said that she would take at least seven days to complete thorough inquiry during which she would talk to the other farmers regarding the allegations. She further said that it would be very difficult to prove that the production of paddy was hampered owing to poor quality seeds, since the harvesting has already been completed.

She said that agriculture department workers in the field would talk to the victims who bought seeds from a local trader six months ago, to collect information and other documents to take action against seed sellers who allegedly duped the farmers.

“I will also talk to the farmers after completing primary investigations”, she said.

The farmers today not only lodged complaint but also presented the seed seller Mr Bhanu Das before the ADO.

Mr Das, presently working as seed selling hawker, confessed before the ADO that he bought seeds from Mr A Sarkar, another seed dealer in Gazole town in the district, and also produced a tabled cash memo.

Dr. Bhattacharya revealed, “Bhanu Das did not have license for selling seeds. Four months ago I visited his shop and asked him to close the shop. Though he had applied for license, he did not fulfill the criteria to get license from the state government”.

The assistant director of agriculture in Malda Mr Mir Farhad Hossain said, “We need to get a specific complaint to inquire in to the allegation. After inquiry we will report it to the deputy director for necessary action”.

Nearly 80 farmers from Old Malda block suffered huge losses after using paddy seeds procured from the local trader resulting in 40 per cent less harvest of the expected production.

The farmers under the banner of Paschim Banga Krishak Samiti, backed by the CPI-ML (Liberation) will lodge the same complaint with the ADO of Gazole block tomorrow.